Apparatus for regulating refrigeration systems

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for regulating refrigeration systems including a refrigerant fluid and comprising transport means ( 2 ) of the refrigerant fluid, suitable to carry and transport the refrigerant fluid, measurement means ( 3 ) suitable to measure the quantity of refrigerant fluid contained in the refrigeration system and a connection device ( 4 ) suitable to functionally connect the transport means ( 2 ) and the measurement means ( 3 ) simultaneously to the refrigeration system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for regulatingrefrigeration systems of the type including a refrigerant fluid andcomprising transport means of said refrigerant fluid, suitable to carryand transport said refrigerant fluid, and measurement means suitable tomeasure at least the quantity of said refrigerant fluid contained insaid refrigeration system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Refrigeration systems, used for different purposes and differentmachines, are known.

In particular, refrigeration systems are used for refrigerators, airconditioners for buildings, air conditioners for vehicles and the like.

As it is known, these systems decrease the temperature of a room bymeans of endothermal evaporation of particular fluids, calledrefrigerant fluids, carried inside a sealed closed circuit. In thiscircuit the refrigerant fluid is cyclically subjected to evaporation andsubsequent liquefaction by means of variations in pressure.

Refrigerant fluids are fed into the refrigeration system through aspecific connection. They are fed after a vacuum has been created insidethe circuit, so that the refrigerant fluid does not come into contactwith other gases, in particular with atmospheric humidity which coulddamage it.

Moreover, refrigeration systems are subject to small and inevitable loadlosses, and therefore the quantity of refrigerant fluid present in thesystem must be periodically reintegrated.

These operations to reintegrate, feed and adjust the quantity ofrefrigerant fluid are referred to here for simplicity as refrigerationsystem regulation operations.

These refrigeration system regulation operations are currently carriedout by means of different elements and devices, according to thesequence of operations specified hereunder.

A first operation provides for connecting a gauge to the connection ofthe system and measuring the pressure of the refrigerant fluid.

A second operation provides for connecting a vacuum pump to theconnection and complete suction not only of the refrigerant fluid but ofany fluid present in the system. This operation is not always carriedout; in fact it is carried out only in the case of complete recharge ofthe refrigerant fluid or before activating the system. Moreover, it isnot always necessary to measure the pressure before this operation.

A third operation provides for feeding refrigerant fluid into thesystem. This feeding is carried out by means of a container ofpressurized fluid which is connected, through a specific connectionhose, to the connection of the system. It is thus necessary todisconnect the gauge or vacuum pump and reconnect the specific hoseconnected to the pressurized container.

The quantity of fluid fed must be calculated in advance on the basis ofthe manufacturer's instructions and is regulated by measuring thedecrease in weight of the pressurized container by means of a specificbalance.

A fourth operation provides for detaching the connection hose connectedto the pressurized container and once again attaching the gauge tomeasure the pressure to the connection of the system.

At this point, if the gauge indicates the required value, the operationto regulate the system is concluded; otherwise, it is necessary torecalculate the quantity of fluid to be fed, re-attach the pressurizedcontainer and repeat the third and fourth operation until the pressurehas reached the optimal value.

The aforesaid known technique has some important drawbacks.

In fact, it is evident from the description above that the operation islengthy and complicated.

Another drawback lies in the fact that to carry out a regulation of thistype it is necessary to use apparatus composed of different instruments:a vacuum pump, a gauge, a pressurized container, several connectionhoses of the container and a balance.

Therefore, it is somewhat difficult to transport the aforesaid elementsand to carry out regulation of the system on the site. Nonetheless,on-site regulation is increasingly necessary, not only for refrigeratorsbut also for air conditioning systems which are more costly, installedin somewhat inaccessible areas and must have a higher average duration.

Another drawback lies in the fact that the regulation described is veryrough and somewhat imprecise.

In fact, the different operations to connect and disconnect the variouselements cause temporary losses of pressure in the system. Moreover, themass of fluid fed is calculated on the basis of the weight of thepressurized container, and therefore the quantity of fluid presentinside the connection hose is not calculated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this situation the technical aim of the present invention is todevise an apparatus for regulating refrigeration systems capable ofsubstantially overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks.

Within said technical aim, an important object of the invention is toprovide an apparatus for regulating refrigeration systems which allowsfast regulation of the system.

Another important object of the invention is to obtain an apparatus forregulating refrigeration systems which is weightless and easilytransportable.

Last but not least object of the invention is to provide an apparatusfor regulating refrigeration systems which is precise.

The technical aim and the objects specified are attained by an apparatusfor regulating refrigeration systems which includes a refrigerant fluidand comprises transport means of said refrigerant fluid, suitable tocarry and transport said refrigerant fluid, measurement means suitableto measure at least the quantity of said refrigerant fluid contained insaid refrigeration system, and a connection device suitable tofunctionally connect said transport means and said measurement meanssimultaneously to said refrigeration system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawings show, by way of example, preferred embodiments ofthe invention. In particular:

FIG. 1 schematizes a cross-section of the apparatus according to theinvention; and

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the apparatus according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the Figures, the apparatus according to the inventionis indicated as a whole with the number 1.

It is suitable to regulate refrigeration systems, comprisingrefrigerators, air conditioners for buildings, for cars and the like.More specifically, the apparatus 1 is suitable to regulate the quantityof refrigerant fluid present in a specific closed refrigeration circuit50, present in the refrigeration system.

As specified, the quantity of refrigerant fluid present in said circuit50 can be regulated by means of a specific access valve 51 to saidcircuit 50.

Briefly, the apparatus 1 comprises transport means 2 of the refrigerantfluid, suitable to carry and transport said refrigerant fluid, andmeasurement means 3 suitable to measure at least the quantity ofrefrigerant fluid contained in the refrigeration circuit, part of therefrigeration system.

The apparatus 1 also comprises a connection device 4 suitable to beconnected to the access valve 51 of the refrigeration circuit 50 and toaccess said circuit 50.

For this purpose, the device 4 comprises an outlet connection 5constrainable to the access valve 51, by means of a threaded connectionor the like.

The connection device 4 is also suitable to functionally andsimultaneously connect the transport means 2 and the measurement means 3to the refrigeration system.

The connection device 4 is suitably realized by a closed chambersuitable to be placed in fluid communication with the circuit 51, bymeans of the connection 5, and with the transport means 2 and themeasurement means 3, by means of a plurality of inlet connections 6.

In particular, the transport means 2 comprise feed ducts 8 for therefrigerant fluid, suitable to transport said fluid from a pressurizedcontainer 7 to the connection device 4.

The pressurized container 7 can be of various typologies and is of aknown type. In particular, different pressurized containers aremanufactured and marketed by “Nevada Refrigerants”.

It comprises an outlet valve 7 a, connectable to the feed ducts 8.

The feed ducts 8 therefore comprise a connection 8 a, connectable to theoutlet valve 7 a of the pressurized container 7, preferably a checkvalve 8 b, located in proximity to the connection 8 a and suitable toprevent gas from returning into the container 7, and an outlet 8 csuitable to be connected in fluid communication with the connectiondevice 4.

The connection device 4 in fact comprises an inlet connection 6 a forthe ducts 8.

The feed duct 8 finally comprises a tap of the inflowing fluid 8 d. Thistap 16 a is located in proximity to and preferably at the outlet 8 c. Itallows the feed duct 8 to be closed or opened, and can be opened bymeans of a first control lever 16 a or the like, of known type.

With this tap 8 d fluid can therefore be prevented from entering orallowed to enter the circuit 50.

The transport means 2 also advisably comprise removal ducts 9 of thefluid, suitable to transport the fluid from the inside of the circuit 51to the outside environment or to a specific container, which aretherefore suitable to be connected to a vacuum pump 10, of known type.

The removal ducts 9 thus comprise a connection 9 a connectable to avacuum pump 10, a fluid outlet tap 9 b and an inlet 9 c suitable to beconnected to the connection device 4.

In fact, the connection device 4 also comprises an inlet connection 6 bfor the ducts 9.

The fluid outlet tap 9 b allows the removal duct 9 of the outflowingfluid to be closed or opened, is located in proximity to, or at, theinlet 9 c and can be opened by means of a second control level 16 b orthe like, of known type.

The measurement means 3 instead comprise a gauge 11, suitable to measurethe pressure of the refrigerant fluid contained in the refrigerationsystem and in particular in the circuit 50.

The measurement means 3 could comprises two gauges 11, one for the highand one for the low pressure, when the apparatus 1 is designed for therefrigeration systems for cars.

The gauge 11 is of known type and is also connected to the connectiondevice 4, more specifically to the inlet connection 6 c of the gauge 11.

The gauge 11 is therefore in fluid communication with the circuit 50through the device 4. It is therefore able to measure the pressure ofthe refrigerant fluid in the circuit 50, in particular it is able tomeasure this pressure simultaneously to actuation of the transport means2 described.

The measurement means 3 also comprise a balance 12 suitable to measurethe quantity of refrigerant fluid contained in the pressurized container7.

In particular, the balance 12 is realized by a load cell placed at theconnection 8 a.

The load cell realizing the balance 12 is of known type and comprises aspecific printed circuit connected to an electric battery 13, also ofknown type.

The measurement means 3 finally comprise at least one viewing device 14suitable to view the measurement values.

In particular, there are two viewing devices 14: a first viewing device14 a suitable to view the values measured by the gauge 11 and a secondviewing device 14 b suitable to view the values measured by the balance13.

In particular, the first viewing device 14 a is of analogue type anddirectly connected to the gauge 11, while the second viewing device 14 bis a digital display and is connected to the balance 14 and to thebattery 13 by means of electrical cables 15.

The apparatus 1 also comprises control members 16 of the transport means2 and of the measurement means 3. The control members 16 comprise thecontrol levers 16 a and 16 b of the taps 8 d and 9 b and any othersecondary control members, in particular a reset button which allowszero setting of the balance 12.

The apparatus 1 also comprises at least a first handheld unit 17 a,suitable to be grasped and handled manually, more specifically with onehand.

Said first handheld unit 17 a includes the connection device 4 and atleast part of said transport means 2 and of said measurement means 3.

There are preferably provided a first 17 a and a second 17 b handheldunit. In particular, the first handheld unit 17 a comprises controlmembers 16, more specifically the control levers 16 a and 16 b of thetaps 8 d and 9 b, the viewing devices 16 and the connection device 4.

This first handheld unit 17 a is therefore connected to the circuit 50.

The second handheld unit 17 b instead advisably comprises theconnections 8 a and 9 a, the balance 12 and the battery 13.

The second handheld unit also comprises a distribution valve 19connected to the feed 8 and removal 9 ducts. This valve 19 acts as asupport for said ducts 8 and 9. The two units 17 a and 17 b areconnected by means of a flexible cable 18.

This cable 18 includes the elements that are placed on both the handheldunits 17 a and 17 b, i.e. the feed ducts 8 the removal ducts 9 and theelectrical cables 15. Finally, the apparatus 1 can comprise mechanicalconnection means to the pump 10 placed on the first unit 17 a.

Operation of an apparatus for regulating refrigeration systems,described above in a structural sense, is as follows.

In a first case the apparatus 1 is used to regulate the quantity offluid in the circuit 50, while in a second case the apparatus 1 is usedto completely empty a circuit 50 and to feed the fluid into saidcircuit.

In the first case the outlet connection 5 of the apparatus 1 isconnected to the access valve 51 of the circuit 50. The circuit 50 andthe device 1 are therefore in fluid communication.

The taps 8 d and 9 b are in the closed position and therefore shut offthe ducts 8 and 9, while the remaining valves allow fluids to flowthrough the feed 8 and removal 9 ducts and a pressurized container 7 isconnected to the connection 8 a.

The gauge 11 measures the pressure inside the circuit.

If the pressure is not at the required level, it is possible to act onthe control members 16 and in particular on the lever 16 a, and controlfeed of refrigerant fluid into the circuit 50.

Simultaneous to feed of fluid it is possible to check, by means of thegauge 11 and in particular of the viewing device 14 a, whether thepressure has reached the required levels inside the circuit 50.

At the same time it is also possible to view the quantity of refrigerantfluid fed in by means of the balance 12 and of the viewing means 14 b.

The whole operation can be carried out easily holding the two handheldunits 17 a and 17 b with both hands or resting the unit 17 b on asurface in a suitable position and holding the first handheld unit 17 ain one hand.

The whole operation can also be carried out observing only the firsthandheld unit 17 b, which in fact contains all the elements required toperform the operation: the control members 16 and the viewing devices 14a and 14 b.

In the case in which the apparatus 1 is instead used to completely emptya system and feed the fluid into it the use of a vacuum pump 10 isnecessary.

In this case the pump is connected to the connection 9 a and emptying ofthe circuit 50 is controlled through the lever 16 b.

The subsequent operations are instead identical to the operationsdescribed previously and also in this case the various operations can becarried out easily. Finally, in this case the second handheld unit 17 bcan be placed in a suitable housing on the pump 10.

The invention achieves important advantages.

In fact, the apparatus 1 allows fast and precise regulation ofrefrigeration systems.

This advantage is due to the fact that the operations to feed or removerefrigerant fluid, to measure the pressure inside the circuit and tomeasure the quantity of fluid fed into the circuit, can be carried outsimultaneously and easily, as specified above.

Therefore, it is not necessary to carry out the operations in sequenceone at a time and to connect, one at a time, different elements to thevalve 51. In fact, it is sufficient to connect the connection 5 to thevalve 51 to carry out all the different operations.

A further advantage lies in the evident fact that the apparatus 1 can betransported easily and quickly. In fact, it weighs only a few kilogramsand can be transported by hand.

Another advantage lies in the fact that the apparatus 1 comprises atlest a first handheld unit 17 a, therefore it is adapted to be manuallyused and grasped.

Last but not least advantage of the apparatus 1 is the high precisionthereof, in particular of the gauge 11.

The gauge 11 is in fact connected in proximity to the valve 51 andtherefore allows precise measurement and, moreover, there are no lossesof load caused by continuously removing elements from and connectingelements to the valve 51.

The invention is susceptible to modifications and variants fallingwithin the scope of the inventive concept.

All details can be replaced with equivalent elements and materials, andthe forms and dimensions can be any.

1. Apparatus for regulating refrigeration systems including arefrigerant fluid and comprising transport means (2) of said refrigerantfluid, suitable to carry and transport said refrigerant fluid,measurement means (3) suitable to measure at least the quantity of saidrefrigerant fluid contained in said refrigeration system, at least onehandheld unit (17 a), suitable to be grasped manually, and including atleast part of said transport means (2) and of said measurement means(3), and a connection device (4) suitable to functionally connect saidtransport means (2) and said measurement means (3) simultaneously tosaid refrigeration system.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid transport means (2) comprise a connection (8 a) suitable to beconnected to a pressurized container (7) of said refrigerant fluid. 3.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transport means (2)comprise a connection (9 a) suitable to be connected to a vacuum pump(10) suitable to allow suction of said refrigerant fluid from saidrefrigeration system.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidmeasurement means (3) comprise at least one gauge (11) suitable tomeasure the pressure of said refrigerant fluid contained in saidrefrigeration system.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein saidmeasurement means (3) comprise two gauges (11) suitable to measurerespectively the high and the low pressure of said refrigerant fluidcontained in said refrigeration system.
 6. Apparatus according to claim1, wherein said measurement means (3) comprise a balance (12) suitableto measure the quantity of said refrigerant fluid contained in saidpressurized container (7).
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid transport means (2) comprise at least one control member (16) ofsaid transport means (3).
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, whereinsaid control members (16) are suitable to selectively control inflow oroutflow of said refrigerant fluid in said system.
 9. Apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein said measurement means (3) comprise at least oneviewing device (14) suitable to view the measurement values. 10.Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising two handheld units (17 a, 17b) connected by a flexible cable (18).